The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI), in collaboration with the Lost History Foundation (LHF), on Thursday presented a petition to Parliament calling for the inclusion of indigenous languages in parliamentary proceedings to promote inclusivity and effective participation among Malawians.
The petition, presented by CDEDI Chairperson, Sylvester Namiwa, was delivered at Parliament’s main entrance in Lilongwe at around 10 a.m.
Namiwa said the petition seeks to ensure that the country’s legislative processes reflect linguistic diversity and promote equality among citizens who may not be proficient in English.
“It’s high time we began questioning the continued use of English as the only language in Parliament. During campaign period, politicians use vernacular languages to reach out to the masses, so it doesn’t make sense that once elected, they revert to English.
“Some MPs have remained silent in the House simply because they are not confident expressing themselves in English. Allowing the use of indigenous languages will help them actively participate and make debate more meaningful to ordinary Malawians,” he said .
Carrying placards written “Indigenous languages for inclusivity”, “Nyumba ya malamulo iwonjezere ziyankhulo” (The National Assembly should include more languages), and “Indigenous languages = improved debate”, the demonstrators chanted songs outside Parliament calling for linguistic reform in the august House.
Zomba City North Member of Parliament, Bester Awali, received the petition on behalf of the Speaker.
Awali, commended CDEDI and its partners for the initiative, describing it as a progressive step towards making Parliament more inclusive.
“I am happy that you have presented this petition. It’s a wise decision because it will help Malawians who cannot understand English to follow what is being said in Parliament. This is a good step toward inclusive governance,” said Awali.
CDEDI and LHF have also urged government to consider adopting indigenous languages in schools to promote learning equity and cultural preservation.
The organisations emphasized that language inclusivity is a constitutional and developmental issue, aligning with efforts to ensure equal participation in governance and access to information for all citizens.